A chlorine gas leak has been reported from a chemical factory in Bhubaneswar. Fortunately, there have been no casualties reported.
A chlorine gas leak from Shivam Chemicals in Bhubaneswar's Chandaka Industrial area caused panic on Saturday. Fire personnel swiftly contained the situation, preventing casualties.
Arpit Pattnaik
A gas leakage from a chemical factory in the Chandaka Industrial area caused panic on Saturday. However, timely intervention by the fire personnel averted a major accident.
According to reports, the Chandrasekharpur Fire Station personnel received a call in the evening about the gas leakage at a chemical factory named Shivam Chemicals in the Chandaka Industrial area.
Without wasting any time, five teams reached the spot. A rescue tender, a water tanker, and four fire extinguishers were used to bring the situation under control. It is suspected that the leaked gas was sodium hypochlorite. Wearing safety gear, including oxygen breathing masks, the fire personnel rushed into the factory and removed the defective cylinder to an isolated place. As a precaution, a neutralizing compound - limestone mixed with water - was sprayed, and a gas detector machine was used, which showed that the air standard remained within a normal and safe zone for human life. During the operation, the road between Patia and Infocity was sealed, and the traffic was diverted.
"The fire personnel entered the factory premises wearing oxygen gas masks. After identifying the defective cylinder, they neutralized and isolated it. With the help of a gas detector machine, the air quality was inspected, and there were no concerns for human beings," said Deepak Kumar, Fire Services IG.
Narayan Das, a fire officer, emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, "Chlorine gas is poisonous. Its leakage may be fatal. We have removed five cylinders from the factory premises and shifted the defective one to an isolated place. Further inspection is underway."
